Formless Method
Senior Member
The title says it all! Amazing spooky sounds!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=fQiXsMY4S20
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=fQiXsMY4S20
Atmospheric sounds using violin bow on cymbals upside down on Timpani drums
- Thread starter Formless Method
- Start date
caddywumpus
Archnemesis of Larryace
The sound in spooky movies that you hear that sounds kind of like the bowed cymbal on the timpano is actually an instrument called a "Waterphone". It has more of a warbly sound to it, and more overtones. Sure, a cymbal on a timpano is used occasionally, but more often than not, it's a Waterphone.
I love playing with cymbals on the timpani. I make sure to mess around with it every time I play a musical, because you hardly ever do it in concerts, except for that Husa piece and a handful of percussion ensemble/solo pieces...
Anon La Ply
Diamond Member
Didn't know about the timpani trick - faaantastic!
Hadn't heard of a waterphone either - also fantastic. I've seen one used in a band context where its nuances weren't obvious, not like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFyv6t3OS3c.
Hadn't heard of a waterphone either - also fantastic. I've seen one used in a band context where its nuances weren't obvious, not like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFyv6t3OS3c.
evilg99
Platinum Member
By day, I'm a post audio engineer - I work in TV and Film. I mostly mix these days, but sometimes I do a bit of sound design.
Bowed gong and bowed cymbal are two of my all - time favorite SFX, especially when used in layers.
They can do many things, from scary to sunrise. - and they take effects nicely too, like flanging and verb. I have a private collection of samples, made them myself. Hint - thin and broken cymbals with lots of rosin on the bow = especially interesting sounds. Try it! You can bow glasses of water too.
Makes me wonder sometimes why Bonham didn't jump up and grab that bow from Paige when he was doing the bowed Les Paul thing...he could have done some cool(er) things with it!
Neal
Bowed gong and bowed cymbal are two of my all - time favorite SFX, especially when used in layers.
They can do many things, from scary to sunrise. - and they take effects nicely too, like flanging and verb. I have a private collection of samples, made them myself. Hint - thin and broken cymbals with lots of rosin on the bow = especially interesting sounds. Try it! You can bow glasses of water too.
Makes me wonder sometimes why Bonham didn't jump up and grab that bow from Paige when he was doing the bowed Les Paul thing...he could have done some cool(er) things with it!
Neal
